Reversible friction clutch wrench



May 10, 1949. E, PRATT l 2,469,572

REVERSIBLE FRICTION CLUTCH WRENCH Filed Dec. 15, v19425 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 10, 1949. v L.. E. PRATT REVERSIBLE FRICTION CLUTCH WRENCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 13, 1943 6 www 569 r a wh @2 l f 4 ,wd 3/ 5 um n 1 r 5/ 6 s s eP l I i .NWI n 4W-- 5 z M w M j M. 5 M Y s e l l 2 IY I ww a f M, d my L 5- Irl L.. E. PRATT REVERSIBLE FRICTION CLUTCH WRENCH May 10,1949.

4 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Dec. 15, 1943 MN N WN MW -..JV f/ w B. NN

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Lawrence E40/'m515 May101949? v L. E. PRATT '2,469,572

' REVERSIBLE FRICTION CLUTCH WRENCH.

Filed Dec. 15, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 87 80 86 sly' 75 .55 80 gg 4 .94. 70 7% i' I v W/ 'l I .91 I ,I 32

Patented May 10, 1949 STA-TES 2,469,512 REVERSIBLE FRIGTION CLUTCH Lawrence E. .P-rtt, Ridl, Applicata@ December 1s, 1943 seria;

2 2 claims- (oi. vee-i552;

My invention :relates to Ai-nprovements in 'reversible friction .clutch wrenches and has for So-bfi jects vthe provisionfof =a wrench of this type which shall be simple and'oomparatvely easy andcheap to manufacture and Whichehall be readily usable and manipulated, lelc'inlt in operation, capable of v.withstandir-ig hard usage, and :olf long life.

A Vfur-ther object is the provision Lof a friction clutch type'of -Wrenchin which there is practically no lost motion in gripping the rotary shank or releasing same.

Another iobject '-i's the provision vof such a wrench having simple and .positive reversal means easily operated from thenexterior;

Another object is :the provision o'i such a reversible means which is :operable without kexposing the interior wrench mechanism `to the entrance of dirt. Y

A still yfurther object is :the provision of euch a wrench :in which the interior mechanism is sealed against 'the entrance lof dirt.

Another object :is -ithe provision, in such a device, .of clutching vmeans lat three lpoints preferably tequidistant fto obtain :better centralization and ."effects.

Another object -1is -the` provision, in such a Wrench, of vclutching rollers in pairs acting @between :the driving and driven members thereof. Another object is rtheflooation-of such @airs of clutching `:rollers 1in the :rotary shank -or :sprocket of the wrench. And ar'iotherobject is the location vof `such .pairs of clutching rollers in the handle or body part -of the Wrench.

Further :objects and 'advantages will appear from the `detaileddescription and claims to follow in connection-.with=the accompanying drawings which illustrate vseveral embodiments. of my inventiomby Wayrof illustration and not of limitationi and 1in-which' Fig. l1 isaplan view-Orbene `rormofthe wrench showing a part of 'the enclosingastruoturebroken away, :the -better fto Sshow ithe #action of the lreversingfpart's'; i

Fig. 3 is a similar view' Showing the parts' 11eversed;

"Fg. 4 s a cross-section of 'the Wrench body en the line lie-4 o fllg. 1.;

Fig. 5 .is a `flon'gitudi'nal cross-,section of Ltlf-15e Y wrench on-itheflineffo g.

1". 1' e.v-6:is:aaszres. sentie n thilineweee-@ffief2J :showing :the :fliesilientlyis'upported:lockingrball of thefreversingz-xnemler or selector;

haring a mun of selector :lQlSi lock in, withdrawl fig. 1 2 is plan eating all@ clutching lrelleS fl like h y Parti Fie- :113 tresse@ tra@ ;Qf

the Wrench on line I orzreess f oniline f Selector;

'a lit is freeman@ met' the erregte@ ef :the aeree@ transversely Sociebzervep., ,A L i hthelinannerof conn settvilAv elem@ tsA 0 th r that they een at rwir 1 t indes a circ #hav vtunning dit, 1i socket Z2 1 shankportionl 3 responding hole ln the bottom of recess or socket 22, and ends in a squared portion to receive the nut-socket 26 (Fig. 5).

In order to permit this sprocket or socket driver 23 to turn in the recess or socket 22 of the handle-body portion or to be gripped or clutched to the surrounding circular ring clutching surface thereof, the periphery of the same is provided with a plurality of recesses 2'1, preferably three, having inclined bottoms or floors shallower at the centers of the recesses and deeper at the ends and forming inclined clutching surfaces opposed to the said ring clutching surface which surrounds all these recesses.

In each end of each of these recesses a clutch roller 28 having a free bodily movement is placed. The inclined recesses 27 are deeper at their outer ends from the ring clutching surface that the diameters of the rollers 28 and less than their diameters toward their centers. If, therefore, the rollers are toward the ends of the recesses, the socket-driving member or sprocket is free to turn with respect to the handle or body, or the handle or body with respect to the member or sprocket, and when the rollers approach the centers they bind between the inclined bottoms or floors of the recesses and the inside surface of the clutch ring, to thereby cause the handle and body to grip the member and turn the nut-socket.`

The rollers 28 are normally bodily springpressed toward the shallower parts of the recesses. This is done by shortv coiled springs 3B passing freely through suitable holesV in the sprocket from recess to recess and bearing at their ends against the rollers 28 about midway of l their length in adjacent recesses.

With nothing to restrain them, these rollers 2S would thus be urged toward the shallower parts of the recesses and block the handle from turning in either direction. So means is provided to block off at one time one corresponding'roller of each set while giving the other roller free rein, whereby the handle may be freely rotated in one direction without turning the socket, but grips it firmly for turning in the other direction. Then by making this means to b-e adjusted to operate inv either direction, that is, on one or the other roller of each set, the wrench may be reversed at'will for use with equal facility Vand effect in either direction This reversing means comprises the selector disc 3| having three depending prongs, pins or iingers 32 at the periphery. This selector is adapted to be pushed down over the assembled sprocket 23, rollers 28 and springs 38, with the selector prongs 32 between the rollers of each pair in the recesses and with the disc part thereof preferably lying iiatwise at the top of the sprocket 23. This position of the selector prongs 32 is clearly shown in Figs. 1 to 3. By rotating the selector disc 3| slightly relative to sprocket 23 one way or the other, the one roller 28 or the other will be pushed by the finger or prong 32, which is designed to contactv the roller outside its center line, into the deeper partof its recess and away from the ring, and therefore cannot bind on the surrounding clutch ring of the body or head of the wrench, While the other roller of each pair on the other side of the finger is free to roll into the shallower part of the recess under pressure of the spring 38 and therefore to clutch, grip and bind between the ring and the iloor of its recess when the handle is turned in one direction and to declutch when the handle is turned in the other direction. This reversal or selector disc 3| and its prongs or iingers do not touch the surrounding clutch ring of the body whereby to avoid any drag tending to undesired reversals.

Since all this mechanism except the protruding shank 24-25 of the sprocket or socket driver is enclosed in the b-ody or head of the completed wrench, means must be provided readily to reverse the wrench, that is, the position and action of these rollers, from the outside. This may be done by temporarily locking the reverse selector 3| from turning within the wrench body and then slightly turning the sprocket 23 by grasping the protruding shank 25 or the nut Spanner 28 with the ngers of the hand and slightly turning it. This will have the eiect of shifting the sprocket 23 so that eventually the other set of rollers 28 may -be engaged by the prongs 32 and moved to the deeper ends of their recesses, out of contact with the clutch ring.

To normally hold the two members 23 and 3|, that is, the sprocket and the reverse selector disc, in their proper relative positions when the wrench is adjusted for operation in one direction or the reverse, the member 23 (Fig. 6) is provided with a hole into which a relatively strong spring 33a, and ball 33h are placed so that the latter will engage with spring pressure in one or the other of the depressions 33 in the inner face of selector disc 3|.

When turning the sprocket 23 by hand in reversal, as above explained, the clutch roller 28 which is being unblocked in each recess soon reaches its clutching point with the ring. This stops further turning of the sprocket, but the construction is such that at this point the ball 33h which has left its seat in one of the depressions 33 has passed over the divide between depressions and is entering the adjacent depression 33. This places the selector disc 3| under spring pressure to be further turned slightly by the ball 33h in finding its seat in the said adjacent depression, when the selector disc shall be unlocked.

The selector disc 3| is now unlocked and, under the influence of the spring 33a and the ball 33h in iinding its seat in the depression 33, rotates slightly but sufficiently to complete the reversal. This, of course, is when the other set of rollers 28 is blocked oif from clutching position and the iirst set is freed for clutching operations.

This combination of spring 33a, ball 33h and depressions 33 in connection with the other parts thus has the function of turning the selector disc and its prongs a short distance against the resistance oi the springs 30 extending between sets of clutch rollers and the frictional drag of the moving parts. The spring 30 resistance is lessened by the fact that they pass freely through their apertures in the sprocket. However, these parts are designed of a size and strength to carry the load thus imposed thereon.

The ball 33h may be replaced, if preferred, by a pointed pin or cylinder 33e, as shown in Fig. 8, the pin or cylinder sliding and being supported laterally in its aperture, and a suitable spring being seated in the aperture and pressing against the pin. The pin is suitably pointed to engage in the depressions 33 and to have its required acion.

The temporary locking means for the reversal selector disc 3| consists of the locking pin 34 located in a suitable bore and recess in the body 20 toward the handle end and adjacent the main socket 22 therein, said pin reciprocating in the plane of the discV 3|. The peripheral edge of the d-isc 3| isi provided;with'smallteethior notches partially or. entirely around the. same.. and ist adapted to.v be locked fromturning; by' said pin: 34 engaging the same.. The end; of;y thisl pin. is provided with one or more? teeth` thus to engage. andlock the disci 3| from@ turning.. The periphery ofy the disc may,n of course.. be formedl with shallow holes,l or be knu-rled; or otherwiserough.` ened inI placev of the teethf or notches.. and the contactend of pirr 34 be properlyformed to@ coreA espond respectively withr such. roughened sur# ace.

This locking pin: 34' moved-2 back and forth by any eccentric? pin 35: onftheend of a. threaded of the pointed` end of eccentric pini 35 and the. n f

bex/*celledvl or reamed-out mouth ot the' hole in locking.` pirr 34 (Fig. 591: By turning the' screw 36` the pin 34? is caused7 to en'gaget'hef edge of disc 3|- and.v thereby to/ lock it from' turning iny the body. It is unlocked' by the` reverse movement.

or tang 4| for ringer operation,y as. shown dotted lines in Figs. 1 to 3. This head 41|! is designed to iit snugly againstthe under? facer of: the wrench body'when itis turned home fully', which shouldf be substantiallyv at the central' position: of the tang 4|, as shown'in Fig; 1in which posi-v tion the locking pin 34' is fully retracted so. as: not to engage the edge of reversal selector disc 3|2. In this position, too, a holding' ball` 4|:a springpressed in the body 20 engages in a suitable depression 42 in the-inner face of disc: 40. This assists in again centralizing the'tan'g 4| when it has been moved therefrom and returned and. in resiliently holding. it there to insure: no undesired locking of the reversal disc 3|.

Ametal thrust washer 43 and a leather seal or similar washer 44 are placed? on the shank 2.4. The sealing washer 44 has a hole preferably slightly smaller than the shankY 24 so as' tol t snugly thereagainst to provide an effective seal around said shank. Thel metal washer 43r proivides a bearing over the wholey surface of. the sealing washer 44 to press and seal it4 against the bottom ofV the` socket 22, and its upper surface closes the bottoms of the roller. recessesL in the periphery of the sprocket to keep thev rol'- lers 23 in place in the use of the wrench and:` i's of advantage in assembling.

When the parts are otherwise assembled" in the body a centeringand thrust'pin 45 isins'erted, with its small diameter' end fitting1 into a c'orresponding hole in the center of` sprocket or'A socket driver 23, its largerpart above fitting in the central opening' of reversall disc 3| (Figs. 5` and 7)". Then portion o'f thepin passing through the discalis a few' thousandtns14 oran incir longer than: the tlzxicknessof the d-isc 3| soV that. the topi dise-fori enlarged hea-dy oi the pinV 45 does not hindi. oni thef surface or the disc 3|: when pressure is appledto the" pin. `A ball seatv is formed in the topface: of, the pin and a bearing ball 46 is placedl therein., This centralizes the rearward or inward'- thrust or ther sprocket or rotor practically to apo'intl andreduces' the friction due to rota-- tiorr. to; ar minimum. It also definitely spacesk the parts apart. A screw cap 4l, having a groove or'kerf. the' outer face for a screwdrivery blade or" siiniflartool;` is their threaded into the open eird of. said: main' receptacle or socket 22` and dowmonto the ball 46; This' cap 4l should; ber adjusted. to take all# play out.- of, the assembly' and stillleaveitzfreefto operate properly. ThusA the.: reversing discv 32| is accurately centered'` andl kept-from engaging' or dragging' on the wail of: thetsocketZ'Z andis free to rotate on: the'sprocketf 3: despite pressure. that may be; applied by' cap" 41? through ball 46 toy the head of' pin 45. They rollers 28. are likewise free to move -when the parts; are so clamped together'.

When finally adjusted' a locking screw 48 (Fig` el' may be" inserted' to; engage the' edge of cap- 4i1; and lock it.y

The nut-socket 26 is held. onto shank 25 by a ball 49v springfpressed outwardly and held in its socketi in. sha-nk 25 in any desiredA way, but

- conveniently by center." punching or swedging.

the' material: ot the: shank near the edge oi they holerv over' thev ball. Inoperation", the turning of thel wrench handle' clockwise or' right-handedly', with the parts as shown in Fig. 1,. will cause the` l ree'zrollerstogrip orwedge between: the member 23am' the surrounding circular' wall of the socket 22 in the body, and thus turny or drive the wrenchasocket.L And' when the handle is' reversed the rolfler's; 28` tend to rollt'oward the larger ends l oill their recesses andvf free the handle so it can bei turned'` back. without rotating the sprocket and the wrench socket'. The dimensionsVV are such that such engagement and disengagement of: the'v rollers take place almost instantly', so that there is practically no? lostv motion;

it' isd'es'iredto' reverse the action` of the the selector' disc 3`| with its prongs 32 mustlbe shit-ted relatively to the sprocket or socket driver 23" to conine the other set of rollers to their endpesition'sfin the sprocket recesses and free the set wlliifchiv had ju'st been conned. ThisV is; the position oi Fig.y 3.- Tl'iis, brieiiy, is accomplished by turning the linger-piece ll of cap 4b of screw 35 from the' position in dotted lines, 1.,to thatY of- Figs. 2 and 3. Thisllocks, by pin 341` the selector' disc 35|f with itsI prongs 32' to the body: 2t. of the wrench. Now' grip-- the body or handle of: the wrench in one hand. With the other turn the shank Z5 slightly--as far as pos sible-inl the opposite direction from that you wantthe wr'enc'l'lij to drive it. Then take the handv away fromthe shank ork socket and with it release the selector lock 4|, moving it back to its central' position of Fig. 1. The spring 33a", ball 33h and depressiorr 33' now come into play and' move the unlocked selector disc 3l and its prongs 32 the remaining." distanceto complete the reversal. In thisueperation et reversing, the nut-socket 26 or shank 25'sl`1`ould, of course, be turned by the fingers of" the hand in the same' direction it had been turning just before whenA operated by the wrench handle', or, as explained, in the opposite direction fromA that the wrench is intended to cl'iive" it.

will be'- s'een from the" foregoing that: the

wrench is sealed from all dirt from the outside. By threading the screw 36 into its aperture a seal is provided to prevent dirt from entering the clutch part of the wrench at this point. Even the turning of the same to lock the reversal selector 3| is in a direction to unscrew the same and therefore does not carry dirt into the interior of the wrench; and turning it in the reverse direction only turns in the clean threads, so no dirt is carried in. The leather washer 44 provides a seal against the entry of dirt between the sprocket 23 and the body 20 and around the shank 24, and the threading of the cap 41 into the open end of socket 22 stops dirt from entering there. The plug 39, preferably permanently secured in position, seals the opening used for drilling the bore for locking pin 34. Since these are the only points at which dirt might otherwise enter, it is entirely excluded. This is important in such a wrench as this, where the rollers and their clutching surfaces must be kept scrupulously free of foreign matter for proper and satisfactory working, and the wrenches are apt to be used in the grimiest of places. Of course the parts should be suitably oiled; in fact, the same may be flooded with oil, and the sealing keeps the same in as well as the dirt out.

This wrench, moreover, is sturdy and strong. The handle 2|, as before stated, may be an integral forging with the body 2U, and may be of any suitable length to give the desired leverage.

Another wrench, having the advantages of a reversible friction clutch wrench, of long life, simplicity of manufacture and assembly, and in which the working parts are in a sealed chamber free from all dirt and foreign matter, is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 11.

In this form of wrench, the greater part of the interior mechanism of the head or body is substantially the same as in the other form of wrench described, and is so shown. The same reference characters are therefore used as to these parts so far as they may apply.

The main difference here is in the handle, body and the reverse selector lock.

The handle comprises an outer sleeve member 66, preferably of metal, on a shaft, bar or shank member 6| terminating in body portion 62 in which the bore, socket or recess 22 is formed.

In this recess are located the rotating socket driver or sprocket 23 and associated parts of the other form, which operate in the same way and perform the same functions and are designated by the same reference characters.

The temporary locking of the reversal selector 3| for the purpose of reversing the action of the wrench is accomplished by the rod 63, which passes longitudinally through the handle member 6| and has a forward pointed or otherwise suitably shaped end 64 adapted to be projected between the teeth on the periphery of the selector disc 3| or against the said edge of the 'disc in a way to lock the same against turning or rotating in the socket 22.

In order so to project the locking rod 63 into locking engagement with disc 3| the handle sleeve member 60 extends beyond the end of the shank member 6|, leaving a small space therein into which the locking rod 63 extends. On its end within the said space a press-fitted thrust bushing 64 is located. This bears against the inside end of the handle sleeve portion 6|] and by said sleeve the rod 63 may be projected forward to cause its end 64 to engage the selector disc 3|.

A packing 65, such as a felt washer, is compressed around the rod 63 within said end space to prevent any foreign matter that may work into the handle from working its way up into the body or head of the wrench. A metal washer 66 forming a seat for the inner end of a coil spring El on the rod and extending between the end thrust bearing 64 and spring seat washer 66 keeps said packing washer 65 compressed against the rod and handle end. The inner face of this washer 66 is preferably concaved or outwardly flaring, the better to compress the felt or similar washer 35 about the rod 63 and on its seat.

The spring 6l resiliently pushes the handle member 3B and the rod outwardly into an unlocking position of the tapered end 64 of the rod, or in other words out of contact with disc 3|.

The handle member 66 is prevented from moving only far enough to unlock the disc 3|, by a slot and screw 68, the latter threading into the handle member 6| and its head flush with or a little below the outer surface of handle sleeve 3i! moving ln the slot therefor in the sleeve 6D.

In this form the centering and thrust pin 45a has an enlarged head 45h which may be nearly as large in diameter as the selector disc 3|, if desired, and with a deeper edge flange than the thickness of the remainder of the disc forming the head 65h; or it may be hollowed out or concaved a few thousandths of an inch in any desired way on the under side between the central stem and the periphery, so that only the periphery of the head 35h will contact or stand close to the outer face of disc 3|.

Here again the portion of the pin 45a, passing through the selector disc 3| is a few thousandths of an inch longer than the thickness of the disc, so that the disc 3| is free to turn despite the clamping pressure on the pin and parts which are centered on the ball i6 and transmitted to the cap lll. However, the action of the spring 33a on the locking ball has a tendency, in pushing upwardly or outwardly on the under side of the selector disc 3| at the ball seats 33, to tilt the disc and cause it slightly to tend to bind on the pin alla. But by having the contact surfaces of the head of the pin 35a and the outer face of the disc 3| at or near their peripheral edges, such binding tendency will be reduced.

In order to reverse the operation of this wrench, the handle is pushed toward the body or head of the wrench. The tapered end 6l! of the rod `63 is caused to engage in one of the notches in the selector disc or head, as in Fig. 10. Then while holding it so locked, with the other hand turn the shank 25 and sprocket 23 in a direction opposite that it is desired for the wrench to operate, until the shank is stopped. This will cause the ball to compress its spring 33a and leave one of the recesses 33 and seek the other. Now release the handle |50. Spring 67 therein will cause the rod 33 to disengage and unlock the selector disc 3|. The spring 33a will then snap the disc 3| and its prongs 32 around to their final position by the seating of the ball in the sought depression 33, thus completing the reversal of the wrench.

While in this form of wrench, in such reversal, the locking pin must be held pressed forwardly to lock the selector disc to the body until the sprocket has been turned, it is most conveniently done by pressing the head of the wrench against any near-by object until the sprocket is turned by grasping the shank 25 or the nut-socket 26 and slightly turning it until stopped. This would of the socket driver to drive the same and the nut-socket carried thereby in the same direction. Turning the handle back causes the said rollers to be freed from clutching engagement with the sprocket driver and permits the 'handle to be brought back without turning the nut. To reverse the wrench the cross-member 85 of the selector 78 is turned manually a short distance in the direction the handle is to be turned to drive the nut-socket-in this instance, counterclockwise or left-handedly. This will bring the pins or prongs 19 against the opposite rollers of the pairs, rendering them inoperative, as explained, and permitting the other roller of each pair to clutch when the handle is turned to the left and to unclutch when the handle is turned to the right, thus giving a left-handed operation to the wrench. In turning the selector from one position to the other, the spring ball 81 passes from one seating recess 90 to the other and resiliently holds the selector in the desired position.

In all forms of the wrench there are preferably three sets of clutching rollers at 120 apart around the clutching surface. This gives a better centralization and equalizationv of the gripping effects of all the rollers than a greater number under all conditions of use and for all time within the life of the Wrench. The wrenches in all these forms are provided with a'chambered head which is sealed against the admission of foreign matter 1 to the interior, and the selector mechanism for reversal is operated from the outside without breaking the seal. Pairs of rollers preferably are used for clutching, declutching and reversing.

Having thus described my invention and several embodiments thereof, and appreciating that various changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof or its scope as set forth inthe appended claims, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A reversible friction sealed-chamber Wrench comprising a handle and head in the form of a sealed chamber, the latter having a transverse opening therethrough, a relatively rotatable member having a sprocket fitting within the opening and a shank projecting laterally therefrom to carry a nut socket, locking rollers between the circular or ring-like wall of said opening and the seats for the rollers in the sprocket, roller reversing means in the chamber, means in a side opening in the chamber to engage and control the said reversing means and rollers for reversal operation of the wrench, a non-metallic dirt-excluding washer in the opening around said shank, means for excluding the entrance of dirt i to said side opening, and a dirt-excluding cap closing the mouth of n said opening over the sprocket, whereby a sealed chamber 1s formed around the rollers and seats and all dirt is excluded therefrom.

2. A reversible friction Wrench comprising a body portion having a transverse circular opening therein, the wall of which opening forms a ring surface, a driven member having a sprocket in said opening having a protruding shank to carry a nut socket and provided with a plurality vof equally spaced peripheral recesses, each of which has a surface in the bottom thereof sloping from the shallower central part to the deeper ends and forming, respectively, right-hand and left-hand surfaces opposed to said ring surface, a roller in each end of said peripheral recesses of a size to wedge between said ring andthe opposed recess surface when the roller is toward the center of the latter and to free the same when 12 toward the end of the recess, springs pushing the rollers toward the centers of the recesses, a disc over the sprocket having prongs at the edge extending between the rollers of each pair, said disc being capable of a slight rotation relative to the sprocket to push one or the other of said rollers in ea-ch pair toward the end of the recess to convert the wrench from a right-hand to a Aleft-hand Wrench and vice versa, a lock operable from the exterior to lock said disc from turning relatively to the sprocket while turning the sprocket slightly by grasping and turning the shank, and resilient means for releasably retaining said disc and sprocket in the one relative position or the other.

3. A reversible friction wrench comprising a handle and a head having a transverse opening therein, a driven nut-socket carrying member having a sprocket in said opening, said sprocket having a plurality of peripheral recesses, a pair of rollers in each said recess, a disc over the sprocket and having peripheral prongs extending between and parallel with the rollers, said disc being rotatable slightly in either direction on the sprocket to render a corresponding roller of each said pair nonlocking, resilient means for releasably retaining said disc in one position or the other on the sprocket, a centering pin extending through the disc and into the sprocket, a ball nested in the cuter surface of the head of said pin, and a screw cap threading int-o and closing said head opening and engaging said ball to hold all parts together and yet free to operate.

4. A reversible friction wrench comprising a handle and a head having a relatively large transverse circular socket therein, the wall of which forms a ring surface, a sprocket fitting into said socket and having a shank extending through the bottom thereof to receive a suitable nut spanner, rollers carried by the sprocket and adapted to engage the said ring surface to cause the sprocket and head to move together when the head is rotated in one direction and to unlock the same when the head is rotated in the other direction, means movable relative to the sprocket to reverse the action of said rollers to enable the wrench to be used in the reverse direction, and means operable from the exterior of the wrench to lock said reversing means to the head whereby said relative. movement may be effected by turning the nut socket member or the head while the reversing means is so locked.

5. A reversible friction wrench comprising a handle and head, a rotatable nut-socket carrying member having a sprocket in said head with friction rollers therebetween to enable the same to be operated as a friction wrench, a disc in the head having means by the movement relative to the said sprocket to reverse the direction of operation of said rollers to enable the wrench to be used as a left-hand or right-hand Wrench, and means operated from the exterior of the wrench to lock the disc to the head whereby relative movement of the disc and said sprocket may be secured by turning the projecting nut socket when the disc is so locked.

6. A reversible friction wrench comprising a handle and head,l a rotatable nut-socket carrying member having a sprocket in said head with friction rollers therebetween to enable the same to be operated as a friction wrench, a disc in the head having means by the movement relative to the sprocket to reverse the direction of operation of said rollers to enable the wrench to be used as a left-hand or right-hand wrench, a locking pin inthe head adapted to engage. and lool: said disc tc the head, a rotatable screw extending transversely from said nin. to the. exterior of the head, a connection between said screw and pin, whereby the rotation ci the screw -moves the. pin f ...gv engagement with the. disc or withP draws. 4e same, and a rincer-niece on the screw at the tace oi the head to enable the said lock to be readily applied.- or unlocked, the relative movement between. said disc and sprocket to re verse the. action of the wrench beine caused by turn-ing the. nut socket and sprocket when the disc is sc locked..

7. A. reversible friction ywrenclfi comprising a handle and head, a rotatable nut-socket carrying sprocket: said head With frictionrollers.- thereto enable the same to be operated as a frioti wrench, a disc in. the head having; means by the movement relative to the said sprocket to. reverse the direction ei operation of said' roll'- ers to. enable the wrench to be used as a left-hand or rehtfhand' Wrench, a locking pin movable longitudinally the head toward. the periphery of, Said disc to engage and lock the. same .from rotation in the head,l a threaded screw extend-ing treinv a face ci? the head to a point adjacent the opposite end of the pin, an eccentric pin on the end et the screw entering a hole in the end of the locking whereby the turningoi the screw will advance the pin toward the disc to lock the sance or retract it, e lisce-like head on .said screw engaging the Nface of the wrench when the .screw is .screwedy home and in. the reti.4 ed position. ci the. locking, sin2v the periphery of. fhe disc beingv notched to leave a ngenpiece projecting there from said fin-gerapiece indicating by its position the position vof thelocking pin, and reslientmeans for releasably retaining said disc and the locking ninin unlocking position.

8. A reversi-ble friction wrench comprising a handle and av head having,r a transverse socket therein, a rotatable .driven member in said socket having a shank projecting therefrom to carry a not. socket, friction rollers between thel driven member and socket wall to lockV and unlock, the sametor wrencl'r` operation in one direction, and means to; reverse. the operation of said rollersl to enable thawrench to similarly operate they driven member in the other direction, said means being connected to and controlled by the. handle of the Wrench.

9.. A reversible. friction Wrench. comprising a handle and head, a rotatable nut-socket carrying member having an. end in said head with friction rollers` therebetween to enable the samer to loe onor-ated as a friction wrench, a. dise.- in the body having means by the movement; relative tcthe said and to reverse the direction oi operation-V of said rollers, to, enable the wrench. to be used as a lefthand or right-hand. Wrench and a lock for said disc. operated by the. handle to lock the; disc to. thehead, whereby the said relative. moyement of. the disc and said. end for reversal purposes may be, secured by relatively turning the handle and said nut-socket carrying member While the disc is so locked.

l0. A reversible friction wrench comprising a handle.- and head having a. transverse socket therein, a rotatable unt-.socket carrying member having. an. end in said socket, friction4 rollers betweensaid end. and soclret Wall to ensagean'd disensase. the saine. for wrench operation, means to reverse the operation oi said rollers to enable the wrench to operate in one, direction or the other, and a reciprocating rod or ninV in said handle 14 operated by forward V1eresslne .on the handley to .take part in the reversal operation i1. A reversible friction -tvrench comprising a handle and head, a rotatable nut-socket carryins,r member having an end in said head with friction rollers therebetween to enable the same to be operated as ar friction Wrench, a disc vin the heard zhaving mea-ns .opera-ted by `a movement-reinf- .tivo to the said :end to reverse the direction of operation of said rollers to enable the wrench to be used as .a left-,hand or right-hand Wrench, and a locking .pin or rod in the handle the 'fon ward end of which is arranged to engage and lock the said disc from rotation by forward pressure on the handle against spring pressure which returns the rod to unlocked Aposition when the handle is, released whereby when so .locked the relative movement of the disc and said `end may loe secured by holding the handle or nut-socket carrying member and turning the other.

*1-2, A reversible friction wrench comprising a handle and head, a rotatable nut-socket carrya member an end in said head with friction rollers therebetween to enable the same tobe operated-Zas. a friction wrench, a'. disc in the hea-cl overlying lsaid end and having means op- @rated by a movement relative to the said end to. reverse the direction of operation of sai-d roll'- ers` to enable the wrench. to be used as al lefthand or rlght-harid Wrench, and a. resilient loching member in said end pressing against said disc, the latter having adjacent seating depressions therein ,for said locking member corresponding', to the two Working positions of the disc..

A reversible friction wrench comprising. a handle. and heath a rotatable* nuts-socket carry-` ing; member hav-ingy an end in said head` with friction.- rollers therebetween to enable the: same to be operated as a yfriction wrench,l a disc in the. head overlying said end and having means operated by a movement relative to the said end toreverso the direction of operation of saidy rollers-y to enablel they Wrench to, be used as a left-hand .or right-hand `trench, and a resilient locking membersaid end pressing against, said disc, the latter hav-ing adiacent seating depressions therein for said locking member corresponding to t'llei'titio Working positions of the disc, the engaging surfaces of thel said seats and locking member prior to seating tending: to rotate the said disc tof attest. complete seating.

14s A Wrenchy comprising a head and a handle secured thereto a rotor in the head having its axis transverse to the handle and alternate dri-V'- itlg and release connections to the head in the oscillation.- or the handle, a nut-socket carry- Shan'n of the rotor projecting axially therefrom outside the head, and av ballbearing in. the axial yline ofi the rotor tov receive the pressure from the head to the rotor opposite the shank.

15. A triatlon wrench comprising a head anda handle therefor, a rotor in the head having a mit-Socket carrying shank projecting transverse ly to the handle from one side of the hoadigriploing rollers between the rotor and head for alternately driving and releasing sameinthe operationofv the handle for Wrench purposes, means for eonn'ing. the rotor to the head on. the shank side thereof, closure means on the oppositek side Qi the heart over the rotor, and aL bearing ball between said closure means and the rotor in the axial' line o the, latter to. transmit they thrust butpermit tree relative rotation therebetween.

1 6., A Wrench comprising a handle'and a.. ringlike head secured thereto, a rotorl inv thev head having a shank projecting from one side of the head and adapted to carry a nut-socket or spanner, means for driving the rotor from the head when the handle is swung in one direction and for releasing it when the handle is swung in the opposite direction, means for closing the side of the head over the end of the rotor opposite the shank, and a bearing ball between said closing means and the effective end of the rotor in th-e axial line f the latter, whereby the thrust from one to the other may be transmitted, the area of rotational contact between the two is reduced to a minimum and the separation of parts is maintained.

17. A reversible friction drive wrench comprising a head and a handle therefor, a rotor in the head housing a shank projecting therefrom on one side of the head, friction grip rollers between liead and rotor to grip the rotor to the head and to release the same for wrenching operations in one direction, a reversing disc-like plate overlying the end of the rotor opposite said shank and having transverse projections to reverse by its limited rotation the gripping and releasing operation of said rollers for wrenching operations in the reverse direction, said plate being centrally pivoted for relatively free rotation in the axial line of the rotor, a ball bearing between said plate and the rotor, and a resilient lock for said plate to hold it in the desired position.

18. A wrench comprising a ring-like head and a handle attached thereto, an annular supporting ring on one side of the head, a cylindrical rotor in the opening of the ring-head having peripheral side-edge engagement with said supporting ring and a shank extending therethrough, the head ring being provided with a series of recesses arranged about the cylindrical portion of the rotor, a pair of rollers in each recess, spring means urging each roller into lockingI engagement between the cylindrical portion of the rotor and the bottom of the respective recess, a reversing selector disc overlying said recesses, rolls and rotor at the side of said head ring opposite the supporting ring, a ball bearing between the disc and rotor, a series `of pins carried by said disc and extending into the recesses between the rollers therein, the oscillation of the disc in either direction resulting in the pins enga-ging and pushing to non-locking position one roller of each pair, and a cap plate over the reversing disc secured at its periphery to the head ring and having a recess in its inner face to receive the disc and hold it in place with freedom for oscillation for reversing, said reverser disc having a portion extendingthrough said cap plate to be grasped by the hand for so reversing the wrench.

19. A wrench comprising a ring-like head and a handle attached thereto, an annular supporting ring on one side of the head, a cylindrical rotor in the opening o-f the ring-head having peripheral side-edge engagement with said supporting ring and a shank extending therethrough, the head ring being provided with a series of recesses arranged about the cylindrical portion of the rotor, a pair of rollers in each recess, spring means urging each roller into locking engagement between the cylindrical portion of the rotor and the bottom of the respective recess, a reversing selector disc overlying said recesses, rolls and rotor at the side of said head ring opposite the supportin-g ring, a friction-reducing and spacing bearing between said disc and rotor at substantially the axial center thereof, a series of pins carried by said disc and extending into the recesses between the rollers therein, the oscillation of the disc in either direction resulting in the pins engaging and pushing to non-locking position one roller of each pair, the lines of engagement of the pins with the rollers being inside the plane of the axes of each pair of rollers, and a cap plate over the reversing disc secured at its periphery to the head ring and having a recess in its inner face to receive the disc and hold it in place with freedom for oscillation for reversing, said reverser disc having a portion extending through said cap plate to be grasped by the hand for so reversing the wrench.

20. A wrench comprising a ring-like head and a handle attached thereto, an annular supporting ring on one side of the head, a cylindrical rotor in the opening of the ring-head having peripheral side-edge engagement with said supporting ringand a shank extending therethrough, the head ring being provided with a series of recesses arranged about the cylindrical portion of the rotor, a pair of rollers in each recess, spring means urging each roller into locking engagement between the cylindrical portion of the rotor and the bottom of the respective recess, a reversing selector disc overlying said recesses, rolls and rotor at the side of said head ring opposite the supporting ring, a bearing ball between the rotor and the disc on the axial line of the rotor to transmit pressure therebetween and prevent their facial contact and the frictional drag thereof, a series of pins carried by said disc and extending into the recesses between the rollers therein, the oscillation of the disc in either direction resulting in the pins engaging and pushing to non-locking position one roller of each pair, and a cap plate over the reversing disc secured at its periphery to the head ring and having a recess in its inner face to receive the disc and hold it in place with o freedom for oscillation for reversing, said reverser disc having a portion extending through said cap plate to be grasped by the hand for so reversing the wrench.

21. A reversible friction sealed-chamber wrench comprising a handle, a head having a transverse socket therein, a cylindrical rotor in said socket having a protruding nut-socket carrying shaft, gripping rollers in said head to clutchingly eng-age and disengage the rotor for wrench operations, a reversing selector dise over said socket and driven rotor on the opposite side of the head from said shaft to reverse the direction of operation of said clutch rollers, a friction-reducing bearing between said disc and rotor, said head having a cap member over said disc and peripherally secured to the head, the disc having a portion or part projecting through the cap by which the same may be oscillated for reversal of the rollers, a non-metallic seal against the passage of dirt or the like between said cap and said disc, and nonmetallic sealing means for sealing the socket around the other side of the rotor and shaft against the passage of foreign matter, whereby a sealed chamber for the mechanism of the wrench is formed in the head. 4

22. A wrench comprising a ring-like head and a handle attached thereto, an annular supportingring on one side of the head, a cylindrical rotor in the opening of the ring-head having peripheral side-edge engagement with said supporting ring and a nut-Spanner carrying shank extending therethrough, the head ring being provided with a series of recesses arranged about the cylindrical portion of the rotor, a pair of rollers in each recess, spring means urging each head ring and having a recess in its inner face to receive the disc and hold it in place With freedom for oscillation for reversing, said reverser disc having a portion extending through said cap plate to be grasped by the hand for so reversing the Wrench, the said head ring, supporting ring and cap plate being tightly secured together against the admission of dirt and moisture, and a dirt and moisture seal between the cap plate and reversing 18 disc and between the rotor and its shank and the supporting ring, the Whole constituting a sealedchamber head for the protection of the rollers and associated parts of the wrench.

' LAWRENCE E. PRATT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 275,388 Huyck Apr. 10, 1883 1,079,094 Babson Nov. 18, 1913 1,136,821 Loomis Apr. 20, 1915 2,003,155 Pfauser May 28, 1935 2,082,842 Marland June 8, 1937 2,119,622 Freber June 7, 1938 2,139,650 Anderson et al Dec. 13, 1938 

